Concentrating mainly but not exclusively on the Loire's vineyards, its vignerons and their wines along with places to eat and stay. Also covers some recently published wine books – not just from Loire. Regional Chair for Loire @Decanter's World Wine Awards since its inception.
Winner of the 2009 Wine Blog Trophy (journalist category) Salon des Vins de Loire. I have a large and expanding library of photos, particularly from the Loire – places, producers, vineyards etc. European.

2012:Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award

Friday, 16 January 2015

Whisky Quarterly: the launch

Whisky Quarterly 1st Edition – front cover

It was good to be at the launch of Whisky Quarterly last night. Good to see a new magazine hit the stands. Good to see one that appears to be well financed if last night's lavish launch at Church House, in London's Westminster is any indication with both a large launch party and then a more select after-party curiously featuring some top Bordeaux – Margaux, Ducru-Beaucaillou and the like.

On Twitterdom these bottles of Bordeaux stole the limelight from whisky. Expect to see detailed tasting notes soon from Richard Hemming on the Jancis Robinson site and from Jane Parkinson (The Wine Gang).

Away from the bling what about the new magazine priced at £10? While I have not had time to read much it is certainly well produced with some excellent photography as you would expect with Colin Hampden-White, a leading drinks photographer, as the editor.

Take the Colin's cover photo of Charles MacLean – the malt man cometh – as well those in the feature on Charles. All showing different aspects of Colin's mastery of portrait photography – the close up, the distance shot and the well composed wide angle shot.

The quality of the photos brings me to a slight quibble – the small size of the font used for photo credits. They deserve to be more visible unless, of course, this part of the magazine is sponsored by the league of opticians intent on persuading readers that their sight is failing.

Contributors include Ian Buxton, Jacek Lakomy and Joanna Rutkowska and Alwynne Gwilt as the staff writer and Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley as the two deputy editors introduced once more with an arresting photo.

The first edition includes articles on Speyside, Ardmore, Dalwhinnie, Islay, Glenrothes, women in whisky, Tasmania, Tuthillyown, Swiss whisky and Balcones in Texas.

This edition's most stunning pic is one of a still at the top of a Swiss mountain – credited to Whiskyschiffs Luzern club. I could tell you that the article is on page 56 but that might not help you as the pages don't appear to be numbered – second minor quibble!

These quibbles are surely symptoms of early teething and I'm sure the tooth fairy will make everything right in the second issue.

In the meantime I'll drink to the good health of Whisky Quarterly with a pretty lethal tumbler of pencillin!

Picture use

Unless otherwise stated all photos on this site are copyrighted – Jim Budd. They should not be used without authorisation and due credit.
Please contact me on budmac@btinternet.com for all use. There will usually be a charge for use in commercial publications – papers, magazines, websites etc. and for other commercial uses.
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